Circuit-controller.



' w. P. ANDERSON. 'cmc'un CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-12, 19 12.

1,168,371. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

2 SHETS--SHEET 1.

WEE-55E W. P. ANDERSON. cmcun CONTROLLER.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2-.

UNITED.

ATES AT T i;

WILLIAM 1". ANDERSON, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR' TO THE DAYTON ENGINEERING- LABORATORIES CO., A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed September 12, 1912. Serial No. 719,997.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVILLIAM P, ANDER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Controllers, of whichthe following is a' full,

clear, and exact description.

is attained by providing means which tend to compensate for inaccuracies present in the elements comprising the switch and which therefore facilitate the correct actuation of the various parts.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of one embodiment of my invention is disclosed.

' Figure 1 is a top plan view ofa controller switch, embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalflview. taken on the line 2 in end elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation view of the movable element of the -controller switch. Fig. 5'is a detail elevation view of one of the contact plates of the movable element shownin Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the stationary elementa 7 The embodiment of the switch shown in the accompanying drawings, is especially adapted to be employed in electrical systems of the character set forth in my co-pending applications, filed April 17, 1911, Serial No.

621,512, and Serial No. 633,443, filed June In the embodiment of the switch shown in the accompanying drawings, the movable or swinging member is provided with a serles of contact fingers which in turn are soar- 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a view ranged that upon the shifting thereof into operatlve position, they will engage and give a positive contact with the cooperating contact plateswhieh comprise one set of sta- 'tionary elements of the controller. By this action of the controller it will be obvious that one set of electrical connections may be made by shifting the switch into one of 1ts operative positions, and that this set of connections may be broken by returning the movable member to its neutral or off position, and that a second or different set of electrical connections may be established by moving the controller to its second operative v position.

Referring to the drawings and more partlcularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numerals '20 and 21' designate the end frames of the controller. The frame 21 has a series of four rods 24, extending therefrom, two of these rods being positioned on opposite sides of the innerface of the frame and in superposed relationf These rods form supports for the stationary members and also cooperate with suitable fastening means, such as is .shown by the belts 'or screws 23, for securely holding the various elements of the controller in assembled position. These fastening pieces 23 have enlarged heads which fit within counter-sunk portions formed in the outer face of the plate 20, and enter into and engage with the threaded internal bores formed in the ends of the rods 24. The rods 24 are adaptedto support certain of the current conductive elements of the switch and' inasmuch as these elements may form parts of diiferent circuit connections it is desirable that they be insulated from these rods. Each of these rods is therefore provided with an insulating covering 25, in the pres- 'ent in stance consisting of a tube within -wh1ch the rod is adapted to fit.

It will be understood that. this controller may consist of any number of contact plates, and that they may be arranged in any suitable 'relation to effect the various electrical connections for performing the different functions desired, and that therefore the construction and arrangement of the contact fingers and their adjacent insulating orconducting elements'which may be so arranged for effecting the opening or closing of certain circuits, or performing other functions, should not be held to limit the scope of the present invention as specifically described.

The stationary contact elements may be of any suitable contour, it only being necessary that one portion thereof is' in such position that it may be engaged by the movable contact elements of the controller. In the present instance, the movable elements 26, of the controller, are mounted as a single unit, which hasa main shaft 27, pivotally secured between the frame plates 20 and 21. This main shaft or rod 27 is provided with a. covering of insulation 28, upon which the contact elements or fingers 26 are mounted. In order that the contact fingers may be supported in an efficient manner, so as to assure, within certain limits, an accurate assembling of the different parts, a central supporting member 29, which extends parallel to the shaft 27, is fixedly secured to the pivoted rod or shaft 27, by means of the connecting plates 30. Each of the movable contact elements 26, of the present controller switch, comprises a pair of metallic blades of limited flexibility or resiliency, spaced apart a certain distance so that upon coming-into contact with the single cooperating stationary elements of the controller, theywill be forced apart a suiiicient distance to slip over and tightly press against or engage with the stationary blades.

The specific construction of the embodiment of the movable contact elements shown in detail in Fig. 5, comprises a pair of blades 31, each of which has an enlarged lower portion as shown in Fig. 5, where in an annular opening is formed as at 33, for permitting the elements to be slipped over the shaft 27, and its insulating sleeve 28. Directly in alinement with this open ing 33, and intermediate the ends of the plate 31, there is formed a second opening or perforation 41, for permitting the assembling of the contact blade on the upper support bar 29; the contact blade itself being enlarged, adjacent to the portion wherein this second perforation or opening -i1 is formed, in order to give suliicient strength and rigidity to the blade. The upper or free end of each of these blades which make up the various contact elements 26, is beveled or flanged away from its cooperating blade, as at 3i, so as to facilitate the engagement of the movable and stationary elements.

Vhile certain stationary contact elements designated by the numeral 42, have heretofore been described as cooperating with the movable contact elements 26, it should be clearly understood that the present invention relates primarily to the combination of the movable contact elements, with certain other stationary contacts or conductive straps 45, which are entirely apart from the contact elements 42, and which are in constant contact with the lower portion of the movable contact elements 26, adjacent to their point of engagement with the pivoted shaft 27., These conductive strap or terminal connections are clearly shown in Fig. 2, and are, as stated above, designated by the numeral 45. The various conductive straps are fixedly mounted on the bars or rods 21-, and are insulated from each other and from the stationary contact elements 42, by means ofinsulated washers or sections 16. These conductive straps have an inwardly projecting end portion which is provided with an annular opening 47, which has an entrance 48 of sufficient extent to permit the strap to be slipped over the rod 27, and its insulating sleeve 28. Each of these conductive straps 45 are adapted to be interposed between the blades of one of the movable contact elements 26, and 'to be in continuous contact making position, with each of said blades. -The various contact elements 26 are completely insulated from each other, by means of the insulating washers 48. It has been found, however, that, if the entire space between the adjacent movable contact elements 26, is completely filled with any insulating material, then because of the inaccuracies in machining the various parts and also in assembling the said parts, and also because of atmospheric effects on the various kind of insulation, it often occurs that a binding effect will be created between the blades 31and the movable contact elements 26, and the conductive straps i5, in-such a manner that it will be practically impossi ble to shift the movable contact elements from one of their operative positions into another. That is, in the machining and assembling of these elements, slight inaccuracies may occur, which will cause the stationary members to lie slightly out of their proper position relative to the movable parts. It has also been found that where the stationary members are at all times supposed to be in contact with a portion of the mo *able contact elements, variations in the size and contour of the conductive or insulating elements, caused by atmospheric or other conditions, should preferably be compensated for. This compensation is advisable to prevent such a binding effect between the stationary and movable elements as will prevent the free operation of the movable elements. In order to take care of this condition, a series of resilient elements, in the present case being shown as coil springs 52, are interposed between the insnlating washers L6, in such a manner that the lower portion of the movable contact elements 26 will be constantly maintained in contact-making position relative to the conductive strip 45. Now,'if any variations or inaccuracies occur or are present, the compression or expansion of the springs 52, together with the inherent flexibility or '-trical contact therebetwee'n, and at the same tacts, of stationary conductors one of which 1 1s associated witheach set of movable contime. permit the free operation of, the switch.

The above description will make clearthe structure and functions of the lower portion of the movable contact elements 26, relative to the conductive straps45. The upper portion of the movable contact elements 26, as has been stated. heretofore, comprises a pair of blades, havingtheir 00- adjacent edges beveled or bent back in an opposite direction, so as to permit the con tact members to readily engage with the stationary contact members 0% the switch,

when themovable elements are shifted from one position to another, even though the stationary members and the movable" contact elements are not mounted inexactly their proper relative positions. This comepensating et'tect is further enhanced by the, v fact that the upper portions of the movable contact elements are slightly resilient.

ing of circuits, may be secured by any suit able rearrangement of the terminals 51;" and connecting straps such .as 54:,"may be employedgtoconnect the various conduc-fl tive elements, to secure the above functions,

or in order to efiect various other functions." i

f In order that theiol aims may be clear, I the term stationary conductors will be used to refer to the conductive straps 4:5, in

order to differentiate" from, y stat-1Onary ontacts 42, r V

While the present invention has been described with relation to a controller which may be preferably used withelectrical. systems, suchas has been described and shown ifi din applications heretofore mentioned, it will be appreciated that the elements and combinations of elements comprising the present invention, may be employed with various other electrical systems, and

may be so altered .and arrange'd as to be applicable topractically any electrical system, wherein the closing and opening of certain circuits is desired, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, a

as has been set forthiinthe appended'claims. What; I claim is asfollowsz' I 1.,In a controller switch, the combination .of a plurality of sets of movable contacts; and resilient means positioned between the adjacent sets of movable contacts for maintaining one contact of each of said adjacent 'sets in electrical connection with 'its respective cooperating stationary con- ;tacts; aplurality of sets of stationarycontact elements oppositely disposed, and v I adapted to be engaged by the free-ends of the'movable contact elements; and resilient -means interposed between each set of 'movableielements, whereby the blades of each set of movable elements will be yieldingly maintained in contact with the stationary conductors.- a

movable contacts, 'each comprising a pair iitroller switch, the combina- Y .tion- 'witha frame, of-a series of sets of As shown in Figs. 1' and 2,}various com-' binations relating tot he-making and break of blades mounted-thereon; a series of sta-- tionaryconductors one of, which -is-po'si-' tion'ed intermediate each pair of blades also mounted on said frame and resilientmeans positioned between the adj acentpairs of blades and adapted to maintain one blade of the said adjacent pairs infconta'Ctmakmg position With the respective Stationary.

c0nductors.' c V ary contact elements mounted thereon, each sets of movable contacts, each comprising'a pair of resilient blades liav'ingj free ends j 4. In a controller switch, the combination with 'a frame, of a,.-plu'rality of station-Q which cooperate with the said stationary" contactelements movably mounted in said frame; a plurality of stationary, conductors also mounted on said fram'eandcooperating with-said movable contact elements; insulating means between the adjacent plates of each of said movable Contatsyand resilient mean-s interposed between the adjacent insulating means, adaptedto compensate for v variations in the size and location of the in- ?sulating means.

ture in the presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

WILLIAM P. ANDERSON.

, Witnesses; f I

, L;- E.'HAMER,-"

' JOSEPH W. MCDONALD In testimony whereof 3 I affix my 'signa 

